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Twins Robert and Richard Miller will be on opposite sides when Johnson, Savannah High meet for the state title.

Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Twins Robert Miller, left, of Johnson High and Richard Miller of Savannah High will face off Saturday in the Class AAA state championship game in Macon.

Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News Twins Robert and Richard Miller will be on opposing benches during the State Class AAA championship game Saturday afternoon in Macon.

Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News Twins Robert and Richard Miller will be on opposing benches during the State Class AAA championship game Saturday afternoon in Macon.

Good luck, and may the best man win.

Those are the words Robert Miller of Johnson High had for his fraternal twin Richard of Savannah High in anticipation of a unique Saturday afternoon.

Their schools are playing for the GHSA Class AAA state basketball championship in Macon at 4:45 p.m. Robert is a reserve for the Atom Smashers; Richard a reserve for the Blue Jackets.

“It’s funny and weird, but it’s fun at the same time,” Robert said Thursday. “We live in the same household and have played together all of our lives. The ring is coming home to one house, but only one of us will be on the winning team.”

Robert, who considers himself the big brother, is 7 minutes older.

The dynamics of a sibling rivalry started when Richard was held back in the second grade. Athletically, they started down different paths. Robert always played basketball; Richard liked football.

Robert is now a senior; Richard a junior. They’ve met once this season in one of three Johnson-Savannah High clashes and guarded each other. Richard remembered Robert blowing past him and making a pass that led to an easy basket.

“I thought I better play some ‘D’ or get exposed,” Richard said.

“Back in the day, I was better, but now some people are saying he’s better,” Robert said. “As a reply I would say, ‘I would want my little brother to be better than me.’ ”

The twins’ mother, Richardine Washington, is staying neutral. In Macon, she plans to wear a T-shirt with Richard’s No. 3 on the front and Robert’s No. 4 on the back.

“I’m very excited,” Washington said. “I’m just sad that only one of them can get (a championship).”

Family affair

To show there’s no favoritism, Washington cooked a spaghetti dinner Wednesday night for about a dozen Atom Smashers and Blue Jackets who came over to the house.

Mom Dukes, as she is known to the players, doesn’t mind sharing with either team. Several players have been with both teams. Johnson’s star guard Tim Quarterman played at Savannah High as a freshman before transferring.

Devon Holmes and Dominique Mixon also transferred from Savannah High to Johnson, and Atom Smashers coach Utaff Gordon was an assistant for three years under Blue Jackets coach Tim Jordan.

Both teams will be competitive Saturday, but there’s a pretty good consolation prize.

“We know for a fact, (the city of) Savannah is going to have a champion,” said Jordan before Tuesday’s practice. “That’s great for all the fans who follow high school basketball in this area. This is a matchup people looked forward to all year.”

Robert and Richard’s family in particular. Robert Miller Sr. — Robert and Richard’s father — played at Johnson. Washington attended Johnson and Richard Arnold.

Robert and Richard’s older sister, Johnnell Washington, was the cheerleader captain at Savannah High before graduating.

Robert also attended Savannah High for two years and played on the Blue Jackets’ junior varsity before transferring to Johnson.

But Robert wanted to play with the teammates he grew up with. His parents signed the appropriate papers allowing him to transfer.

It meant Robert and Richard would play on different teams. As kids, they played on the Vipers’ 10-and-under and 14-U basketball teams.

Last season, they competed against each other in junior varsity games. Richard said he hurt his back and didn’t play much in one of the games, while Robert gained bragging rights by scoring 17 points.

The next time out, Richard scored 25 and Robert had 12.

“It was like, I got you back,” Richard said.

Same, but different

Differences? Robert and Richard see several. Richard likes math. Robert language arts. Richard likes computers. Robert not so much.

Robert appears more serious.

Washington says Richard loves cartoons.

Richard and Robert laugh when recalling their youth when they dressed the same and their aunt couldn’t tell them apart.

They relate stories similar to those one might hear from other twins.

“We seem to arrive at places at the same time,” Robert said. “Usually when I walk in the house, I’m thinking, “Where’s my brother?’ ”

Richard shakes his head.

They’ll know Saturday. They’ve arrived at the state championship at the same time, only with different teams. One will emerge a winner. Both assure there will be no trash-talking, no end zone dance in the living room.

In a way, it’s like the Harbaugh brothers coaching against each other in the most recent Super Bowl.

“They were probably talking before the game,” said Robert, before laughing. “The ring’s got to come back to this house; might as well be me.”

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